The home stretch for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball regular season has some intrigue left as Norfolk State leads a group of contenders separated by two games while another team isn’t that far behind. Here’s how the contenders measure up heading into the final weeks before the MEAC tournament.
Norfolk State (7-1)
The Spartans have led the conference from the start and, aside from a 73-60 loss at Howard on Jan. 20, have taken care of business.
North Carolina State transfer Diamond Johnson has been as good as advertised to the surprise of no one, averaging 21.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Forward Kierra Wheeler is maintaining her MEAC player of the year pace, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and blocking 28 shots.
Point guard Niya Fields is averaging 4 assists per game and has snatched 60 steals on the season, providing support at both ends of the floor for NSU coach Larry Vickers.
North Carolina Central (6-2)
Interim head coach Terrence Baxter has quickly transformed the Eagles into a MEAC contender with an emphasis on depth and defined roles.
Freshman guard Kyla Bryant leads Central in scoring (13.5 points per game), steals (45), and three-point percentage (32.3). Junior forward Morgan Callahan is averaging 13 points and a team-high 9 rebounds per game while senior guard Kimeira Burks averages 12 points per game and leads the team in free throw percentage (78.4).
Coppin State (6-2)
The Eagles haven’t missed a beat even after the transfer of last season’s leading scorer Jewel Watkins over the summer to Charlotte. Forward Laila Lawrence averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading Coppin in steals (35) and blocks (24). Faith Blackstone (12.1) and Angel Jones (11.1) are also double-figure scorers, while guard Mossi Staples has started in every game this season and leads the team in assists with 62.
Howard (5-3)
The Bison are carrying on despite the loss of preseason player of the year Destiny Howell to an ACL injury, keeping within striking distance of Norfolk State, Central and Coppin State.
Freshman guard Tyana Walker leads the Bison in scoring (11.4 points per game) and free throw percentage (.846), while redshirt senior Iyanna Warren joins her in double-figure scoring (11.2) while leading the team in assists (63)
Maryland Eastern Shore (3-4)
The Hawks are an interesting team that plays an unselfish style preached by veteran head coach Fred Batchelor, which includes a 78-61 win over second-place North Carolina Central. Their leading scorer is junior center Ariana Seawell (11.7), who comes off the bench exclusively. Grad student guard Mya Thomas is next at 9.3 points per game, leading the team in assists (53).
